Fusedale Circuit

Fusedale fells

Far Eastern Lake District

Route: Fusedale Fells

Area: Far Eastern Lake District

Date of walk: 30th July 2014

Walkers: Andrew

Distance: 7.9 miles

Weather: overcast with light rain and drizzle much of the time

This walk visits four fells which surround the lonely valley of Fusedale near Ullswater in the east of the district

I parked by St Peter’s Church Martindale and made my way along the lovely path towards Howtown. Just after Mellguards I turned sharp right up the fellside, almost missing the path which wasn’t clear at the start – a mini cairn consisting of three rocks was the sign. Once found, the path is obvious and it’s a fairly steep but easy climb up to the ridge line. The views along Ullswater from Bonscale Pike and its ‘twin towers’ were superb

The walk across to Loadpot Hill and thence to Wether Hill was a dull trudge – pathless at first – across a vast plateau of grass, made duller by patches of mist and an absence of views in any direction

It was a relief to start the descent towards the final fell, Steel Fell, and as I did so fine views of Ullswater appeared. There was no path at first but near Gowk Hill I spotted an obvious path which took me to the top of the fell with its sharp summit rock known as Pikeawassa. I had my picnic here, taking in the wonderful view

I took an off piste route down the fell, following the grassy slopes down the fellside in the direction of St Peter’s Church. The last section was quite steep but there were no difficulties. I’d enjoyed the walk despite the indifferent weather

Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)

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